‘Life has changed’

Everyone stopped when Andy Scott played “Amazing Grace” on his bagpipes.

For a few moments Huntington Beach’s pier — usually buzzing with people, tourists and the surfers — was at a standstill Monday at the ceremony to honor those who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.

The mood was somber, marked with tears and a resolve to “never forget” at a Patriot Day ceremony held at Pier Plaza, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

“We are here to pay tribute to free people, freedom, and the United States and the American way of life,” said Ned Metsch, commander of the American Legion Post 133.

Mayor Dave Sullivan welcomed about 200 people to the event, saying Sept. 11 was a day to remember the first responders to the attacks in New York.

“If anything happened in our city, our firemen will respond the same way,” he said.

Sullivan called on audience members to renew their resolve to make sure that “something like this doesn’t happen again.”

Although Sullivan said he felt we’re losing some of that resolve, just as the memory of World War II faded, he still hoped people would remember the sacrifices made on Sept. 11.

“Newspapers writing about how money was transferred to terrorists and the government intercepting calls was something I personally don’t understand,” Sullivan added.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher from Huntington Beach spoke about the need for the city and state to continue the fight against terrorism.

“We have something really special here in Huntington Beach and California — a place that’s looked at all over the world as representing the American way of life,” he said.

We have to correct mistakes of the past so this won’t happen again, he said.

“They hit the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and there was another target — the U.S. Capitol or the White House. But it was saved by ordinary citizens on Flight 93.”

Sen. Tom Harman said he agreed with Rohrabacher, who he said made “excellent points.”

“I was sitting in the front row with my wife Diane, and when I heard the anthem, I noticed that the volleyball game that never stops … stopped today,” he said. “Life has changed — not just for a while, but forever.”

Both Rohrabacher and Harman talked about Al Qaeda and fighting an enemy that is scattered all over the world.

Huntington Beach Fire Chief Jacques Pelletier said it was an honor to reflect and never forget. The enemy is not only ruthless but also a liar, he said.

“It took Osama bin Laden five years to finally admit he was directly involved with the Sept. 11 attacks,” he said.

The hour-long ceremony to honor the heroism and bravery of those who died in the 2001 attacks ended with a three-volley rifle salute by the American Legion Post 133.

Police Chief Ken Small as well as Gen. James Combs of the Army National Guard also spoke at the event.

“In our history, we have very few days which we can rem- ember exactly what we were doing that day,” Small said. “Sept. 11 was one such day.”

The images of people running away from the collapsing towers are etched in our minds, as are images of people in uniform running toward the building, Small said.

Gen. Combs said about 3,000 soldiers fighting in Iraq belong to his unit.

“These soldiers are willing to lay down their life, and that will carry the day,” he said.

Tourists like Tom Meechan and Janet Kennedy from Scotland stopped by when they saw the ceremony to be “very touching and moving.”

And 41-year Huntington Beach resident Marlene Zusman said she thought the event was beautiful.

“I wish more people had come,” she said.